Dormancy is a critical step in the metastatic cascade. Dormant cancer cells can survive dissemination in a non-proliferative state and get reactivated to give rise to metastatic disease often years after disease remission. As such, dormancy represents a major clinical obstacle in breast cancer patient care. Despite this, our knowledge of the biology of dormant cancer cells as well as the mechanisms that wire the dormant state is cripplingly limited. Research in the Gomes Lab at the Moffitt Cancer Center has discovered a mechanism of epigenetic regulation that wires the entrance and exit from dormancy. Current research lines in the lab are aimed at understanding how the different aspects of the patient physiology (age, race, stress, BMI, etc) regulate this epigenetic switch and thereby contribute to recurrent disease in the metastatic setting as well as identifying novel therapeutic targets and liabilities of the dormant state to enable irradiation of disease and prevent recurrence.

Aging is the most robust risk factor for cancer development, with more than 60% of cancer incidence occurring in those aged 65 and above. Despite this, both the pre-clinical research that leads to the identification of and the clinical trials that lead to approval of anti-cancer drugs by the FDA largely overlooks the role of the aging process in cancer. The Gomes Lab uses a combination of mouse models of cancer in the context of old age with system biology kind of approaches (single cell analyzes, CRISPR screens, metabolomics, proteomics) to map the changes imposed by old age into cancer and identify important age-induced mechanisms important for cancer. Our lab has a major focus on breast, lung and ovarian cancer as well as the different metastatic sites colonized by these tumors. To learn more about the Gomes lab visit our lab website at http://lab.moffitt.org/gomes or check our X (former Twitter) account @lab_gomes or our Bluesky account @gomeslab.bsky.social.

Position Highlights:

• Joining a new field of research with many opportunities to grow within the growing field of tumor microenvironment and its interactions with host physiology
• Utilizing cutting-edge technologies (e.g., single cell analyzes, metabolomic/proteomics, intravital imaging) as platforms of discovery
• Working within a multidisciplinary team with plenty of room to learn new skills
• Working closely with Dr. Gomes on the postdoctoral fellow’s career development (e.g., grant/manuscript writing, scientific presentations, networking)
• Working closely with clinicians at Moffitt as well as already established collaborations with world leaders in several fields
• Moffitt integrates excellent patient care with cutting-edge clinical and basic research. Having a cancer hospital on-site provides unique opportunities for translational research
• Outstanding mentorship from expert faculty with wide-ranging funded research programs including T32 Training Grants.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Independent and highly motivated with a proven track record of scientific productivity
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team
• Experience with animal models of cancer and complex animal procedures (surgeries, tail vein injections, intracardiac injections, etc) is highly desirable
• Experience with single cell analysis is also highly desirable

Responsibilities:

• Work independently and collaboratively for the mission of the lab
• Design and execute experiments; analyze and interpret data
• Regularly present findings to the lab and to the Moffitt community
• Attend and present findings to the scientific community in conferences
• Mentor and train graduate and undergraduate students
• Lead established collaborations with other laboratories
• Write manuscripts, postdoctoral fellowships and assist with other funding applications

Credentials and Qualifications:

• MD or PhD in a relevant field is required, preferably not received more than two years ago

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should apply online and additionally send a single PDF file that includes a cover letter summarizing their research training and accomplishments, scientific interests and career goals, current CV with publication record, and contact information for three references to Dr. Ana Gomes at ana.dasilvagomes@moffitt.org

Moffitt Postdocs are provided with Medical Insurance (Moffitt covers premium for team members) effective upon start date and eligible for Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Parental Leave and more. You may be eligible for relocation assistance per policy. Reasons to relocate, aside from the sunshine, beaches and year-round outdoor recreation associated with the Gulf Coast of Florida, Tampa is a thriving metropolitan city, which has become a hub for ground-breaking research, welcoming individuals from around the globe. This diverse city is engulfed with rich culture, year-round activities for all, beautiful beaches, amazing cuisine and so much more. We strive for work/life balance.

If you have the vision, passion, and dedication to contribute to our mission,

then we have a place for you.

Location: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute · Molecular Oncology
Schedule: Full Time, Day Shift, variable